I have attended sporting events at all three institutions. There are idiots at
each location. What has bothered me most is when there are attacks or smears
that are over the top. One should not have to put up with profane ignorant
attacks at any sporting event and those that participate do themselves and their
favored institution a disservice. I would prefer that religion be left our of
sporting events but have found that the predominant religion in Utah is often
targeted at sporting events even though a majority of those in attendance are
often of that religion. Religious bigotry and persecution have no place at a
sporting event. That being said, even with the profanity, hate speech and
ignorance of the few who make it bad for the many. None of those locations
could even come close to the idiocy that used to exist in Laramie, Wyoming back
in the 70's and 80's. We all have a responsibility to be more civil
and have fun with the instate competition. It is just a game and life as we
know it will not end for half of us late Saturday night.

Dude, the bad behavior, and bad language, have almost nothing to do with
football. The game is simply an excuse, or a vehicle. We'd all be better
off without this game now that it doesn't have any conference significance.

The rivalry has become increasingly toxic with too many fans using it as a proxy
for underlying church and cultural tensions in Utah. The weirdness of events
this week demonstrate the increasing escalation that's getting out of
hand.

Being across the country, I've turned to the online DN for
updates on BYU sports. The discussions that follow are a microcosm of
everything that's wrong with the rivalry, with fans attacking each other on
every article months and months before the rivalry game. Frankly, the obsession
some posters have with spamming articles and taking cheap shots is unhealthy,
and anyone who reads the comments knows who I'm talking about. It's
not worth participating in something that used to be good-natured rivalry banter
when I was in school.

I don't even bother reading the articles
and comments in that other Utah newspaper. I feel the need to bathe afterwards.

Sports used to bring us together but now the U/BYU football rivalry divides us.
There is no chivalry in the rivalry because there is precious little of it in
our current Mormon/Non-Mormon divided culture.

Here here to making it more civil. I can't believe that a punk wearing
blue, yelling at a mother who was trying to remind to act with some class, was
not berated by any other fan who could witness the incident. Where did that
take place? Were there other people around to put the clown in his place? What
we need is more so-called BYU fans to take a trip to Southbend and learn some
class. Then get the majority to call out unruly fans who are embarrassing our
institution.

Have class! Have fun! Have laughs! Cry when our team
implodes (54-10)! Relish the revenge victory after this weekend, but have class
in the process.

I'd love to be part of the good natured rivalry pranks and banter this
article pines for. I have had BYU fans around me at the game at RES and
they've always been treated respectfully with nothing worse than a few good
natured jabs. However, in my neighborhood I've had to retreat to just
showing my Ute pride on my own property. I have had my driveway defaced and my
flag stolen (and not returned) and even my cars have been maliciously decorated
in ways that have taken major effort to remove. So I do not participate in any
effort to tease BYU fans. I don't talk much to my BYU fan friends during
rivalry week, unless they bring it up. I've had too many negative
experiences. I enjoy the rivalry in my own way and leave BYU fans alone.

It is unfortunate that a few fans on each side can ruin the experience for so
many around them. It should be just a fun event with good manners and
graciousness on each side. Bad manners should never be tolerated by those in the
same fan base. When BYU played Ole Miss a few years ago we were treated to the
best in graciousness by Ole Miss fans in The Grove. I hope BYU and Utah can both
get to that point some day and not just with each other.

At the Sugar Bowl against 'Bama, their fans were "politely
confident" before the game. No offensive jabs, just lines like
"it's nice of you guys to travel so far to support your team" or
"good luck, I'll buy you a drink after the game" They had no idea
what was about to hit them. We ended up buying drinks for their fans after the
game, and it's true what they say about southern hospitality, they really
were respectful and polite even in losing. One fan, an older guy you could tell
had been a supporter for 50+ years, summed it up with this gem "win with
class, lose with class" Well said, I thought. Too bad, it can't happen
between friends, family and neighbors locally.

Byu has had the last 3 years to learn to be a good sport when you lose and to
show humility.

So far you haven't learned. We'll keep
beating you and you would think after losing to your rival four years in a row
and having guys like van noy and Hoffman go their entire careers without beating
Utah you would finally start to admit Utah is the premier program in the state.

I agree we need more civility, but then you get some like Chris B's
alternate ego 2013 ute seniors... who stirs the pot. Just remember, the
"premier program in the state" got mixed up with utah state on a
schedule preview on national television.